Bioactive scaffolds based on bioartificial biodegradable hollow microfibers

Biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds were prepared using hollow microfibers based on poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and containing drug-loaded poly(L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles. The addition of biological macromolecules to PLLA, to produce "bioartificial" fibers, was evaluated to give to the fibers a better cell affinity. The fibers were produced through a dry-wet spinning procedure expressly set up, and their inner cavity was loaded with PLGA microparticles containing dexamethasone. The entrapment of the particles allows the obtainment of fibers useful in the realization of "bioactive" scaffolds. The morphology of the fibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and their mechanical properties were investigated by tensile tests. The drug release from the fibers loaded with the particles was evaluated in vitro. The viability of ovine fibroblasts onto the scaffolds at different times after seeding was evaluated.